Clockenflap 2016 Top Picks!

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Clockenflap 2016 is taking place in a new location along Central’s waterfront, and the lineup is packed with artists that make the annual festival the highlight of the year for Hong Kong music fans. Read on for a few of our top picks.

As EDM music swept through clubs and gained a massive following, veteran DJs and dance music insiders often grumbled that the genre was formulaic, dumbed-down, and commercial. Yet despite what people think of the sound, the popularity of EDM has actually had a revolutionary impact on dance music.

Picture a room full of people dancing with their arms raised in the air, while a DJ mixes songs and an MC moves about the space, hyping up the crowd. Now imagine that at 9am on a Sunday morning. This isn’t the latest underground after-hours club, but a typical session at Daybreaker, an adult pop-up disco where the hardest thing you’re likely to encounter is an iced-coffee.

The annual Dead Not Alive party took Hong Kong’s Halloween celebrations to an international level and came out of nowhere to become the city’s best. Now in its ninth year, the party is moving into perhaps its greatest location yet, along with its strongest musical line-up ever.

ZoukOut is a legendary music festival that began in Singapore and is now looking to expand across the region. Hong Kong will be getting its first taste of the franchise on Friday, October 7th, coinciding with the Formula E racing event that takes place on the 8th and 9th. Situated in a pop-up club next to Central’s waterfront, ZoukOut Live Edition features four hours of music from hit-makers Ne-Yo, CL, and Nicky Romero.

The Skatalites, a legendary band that ignited a Jamaican music craze called called Ska will be landing in Hong Kong for a live show on Tuesday, October 4th. The Skatalites highly influential sound shaped the direction of Jamaican music, and continued to influence popular music internationally for decades to come. Everyone from The Specials, to Sting and The Police, to American indie band No Doubt owe The Skatalites a debt.

Kee Club, a pioneer in adding sophistication to Hong Kong’s nightlife scene, will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary on Friday, September 23rd, with a party titled “Neon Jungle.” The two-story space was far ahead of its time when it opened in 2001. Over the past fifteen years, the club has hosted an enviable roster including legends Danny Krivit, Gilles Peterson, DJ Krush, and Stéphane Pompougnac, to name but a few.

Drone pioneer DJI, arguably one of China’s coolest companies, is opening a Hong Kong flagship store in Causeway Bay on September 24th. Part gallery, showroom, and community center, the 10,000 square foot shop is an anchor tenant in the new Tower 535 at the end of Jaffe Road.

Just in time for Mid-Autumn Festival, Ninja Tune artist Machinedrum hits Hong Kong on Thursday, September 15th. The talented beatmaker has collaborated with well known names like Azealia Banks and a who’s who of underground dance artists.

After the success of last year’s Road to Ultra Macau, the organizers decided to expand the event, and this year they’re back with Road to Ultra Hong Kong, a massive all-day EDM festival to take place on Saturday, September 17th.

Funny, talented, and an accomplished social butterfly, photographer Paul S. (aka Paul Sunga) has shot many of Hong Kong’s most beautiful women and has quickly built a name for himself. Armed with a go-getter spirit and a friendly smile, Paul has been hustling shoots and building connections that have made him a sought-after photographer in a few short years.

Mark Ronson is a classic New York tastemaker who’s been rocking the city’s most elite parties for several decades. Before Hip Hop and Soul became fully accepted in fashion circles, he was a pioneer, playing classics like Barbara Mason’s “Another Man” along with the very best underground tracks of the moment.

Cashmere Cat, the Norwegian turntablist turned hotshot producer went from relative obscurity to producing high-profile acts like Kanye West, The Weeknd, Ludacris and Ariana Grande. Right before his appearance at Summersonic Japan, he’ll be playing at Volar, Thursday, August 18th.

Disclosure, the dance duo known for headlining festivals like Coachella, Fuji Rock, and Lollapalooza, are coming to Hong Kong for a special show on Friday, August 12th. The multi-talented brothers, Guy and Howard Lawrence, work with top singers including Sam Smith, Lorde, The Weeknd, Aluna George, Mary J. Blige and Miguel, to put out their special blend of dance music.

Ophelia, a lavish new nightspot is the first project by interior design phenomenon Ashley Sutton in Hong Kong. With a vibe that’s part opium den, and part speakeasy, guests are transported into a peacock-themed fantasy-land.

Sandra Chevrier was working as a sushi chef in Montreal before she decided to dedicate herself full-time to a career as an artist. Fortunately she made the correct decision at the right time, and her career has taken off, with new shows lined up for the next two years. During the busy Art Basel week, we sat down with her to find out more about her artwork and discuss her current show at Above Second Gallery, which closes on May 7th.(Catch it now while you can!)

Now in its seventh year, True Skool’s “Reggae Pon di Roof” series has evolved into something more like an outdoor music festival rather than a simple night time party. The eight-hour event begins at 4pm on Saturday, April 23rd, and runs until midnight.

N.Y. House legends Louie Vega and Timmy Regisford hit Tazmania Ballroom for a special party to celebrate the “Louie Vega XXVIII” album release. The event, which takes place Wednesday, April 13th, also features a live performance by singer Monique Bingham.

We’ve been watching Cakeshop develop over the last few years with a hint of jealousy. An indie club located in Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood, Cakeshop is sort of like Hong Kong’s XXX, except it’s situated in a city where people actually like to dance, love to drink, and sometimes care about music.

It’s hard to overstate just how influential Arthur Baker was to dance music. Without him, entire genres of music, including everything from Trap and Miami Bass, to Electro and Baile Funk, would not exist.

Lane Crawford, an international fashion powerhouse and one of Hong Kong’s top retailers, is launching a search for new talent. In a campaign titled “The Next New,” the company is seeking emerging brands, young designers, and creative collaborators.

Michael Lau, the popular Hong Kong artist and toy figure pioneer will open his latest show at the Living Room Museum at Times Square on Wednesday, March 9th. Titled “What? We: Want!” the subject of the exhibition is our growing dependency on a digital lifestyle.

After several pre-launch events, Pacha Macau held its grand opening on Saturday, January sixteenth featuring a special performance by DJ Erick Morillo. Initially making a name for itself in Ibiza, and later New York, the super-club franchise represents a potential new direction for the gambling enclave of Macau.

Tucked away on an anonymous block of Tin Hau, Midwest has been quietly selling American vintage clothing in Hong Kong since 1993. Over the years, they have evolved from a distributor to a retailer, and now into a remixer of sorts, taking classic garments from their stock, cutting them apart, and reassembling them into stylish contemporary pieces.

G-Dragon, K-Pop icon and member of super-group Big Bang has raised eyebrows by posting three movie clips and an image from Wong Kar Wai films on his Instagram account. While it may just be an innocent move, the posts have led to speculation that the Korean star may be collaborating with the acclaimed Hong Kong director in the near future. Would a G-Dragon x Wong Kar Wai project be a smart move?

The first time Onra played at XXX was perhaps the most crowded night ever at the Sai Wan basement location. Hong Kong’s large French population turned out en masse to support the young beatmaker, who initially made a splash with a series of mixtapes that combined abstract beats with samples from old Chinese and Vietnamese records.

Packed with Hulks, Iron Men, and even a life-sized Batman, Toy Soul 2015 couldn’t have taken place at a better time. The annual gathering of the world’s top toy figure companies coincided with the opening week of Star Wars – The Force Awakens. In addition to the hundreds of figures that left collectors drooling, several sections were devoted entirely to the new Star Wars characters.